These incredible Garlic Parmesan Chicken Thighs are seasoned with garlic butter, herbs, and parmesan cheese and then baked in the oven or cooked in the air fryer. The result is a flavorful, tender, and juicy chicken dish!
If you're looking for your new favorite chicken dish, then here it is! You're going to adore these Garlic Butter Parmesan Chicken Thighs.
They're bursting with flavor, succulent, juicy and soooo good.
Chicken thighs are a good solution if you're short on time and need a delicious protein!
Unlike chicken breasts, they don't dry out as easily and are more forgiving if you overcook them. And, since they are smaller, they cook faster, which saves you time.
Chicken thighs can be flavored in many different ways, but we love the combination of garlic butter, herbs, and parmesan cheese. The parmesan cheese adds a nice crispy coating on the chicken as well as plenty of flavor.
Once you season them, you have two cooking options. Easily make them in your oven by baking at a high temperature until cooked through.
Or, if you're short on time or don't want to heat up your oven, cook them in the air fryer.
Both methods produce delicious chicken thighs that are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside! Serve them with your favorite sides for a complete meal!
Serve them with veggies, rice, noodles, or potatoes. Try these rich Truffle Mashed Potatoes! The thighs are also great with a sauce such as Horseradish Aioli, Bacon Aioli, or even Arby's Horsey Sauce!
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Why Make This Recipe
- Whether you have an oven or an air fryer, this chicken recipe is easy to prep and cook!
- Parmesan, garlic, and butter are great flavors that pair well with tender chicken thighs.
- They can be served with your favorite vegetables, starches, or on a salad.
- Cooked in just 20 minutes or less, these chicken thighs make an easy entree for a busy weeknight.
Ingredients
- Chicken Thighs - You can use boneless, skinless chicken breast or ones with the bone still inside.
- Butter - Gives the marinade a rich buttery flavor and helps coat the chicken well.
- Grated Parmesan Cheese - Adds a salty parmesan cheese flavor and helps the chicken get nice and crispy when cooked.
- Garlic Cloves - Adds a complimentary garlic flavor to the parmesan and butter.
- Dried Seasonings - A mix of paprika, Italian herbs, salt, and pepper are used to enhance the flavor of the chicken.
Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full quantities.
Instructions
Wondering how to make this Parmesan Chicken Thighs recipe? It's easy!
Just follow this step-by-step photo tutorial. Then, scroll down for the recipe card for the full ingredients list and recipe method.
Marinate the chicken:
Assemble the marinade: Melt the butter in the microwave or a pot on a stove, then pour it into a mixing bowl. Stir in the parmesan, garlic, paprika, herbs, salt, and pepper until fully combined.
Prepare the chicken thighs: Remove any excess fat from the chicken thighs. Rinse chicken thighs and pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
Marinate the chicken thighs: Add the prepared chicken thighs to the marinate and fully coat. Place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes for the best flavor. If you're short on time, you can cook as is.
Oven instructions:
Prepare for roasting: Preheat the oven to 425F.
Roast the chicken thighs: Place the parmesan chicken thighs into a baking dish and drizzle with oil. Roast for 20 minutes, or until cooked through, turning once or twice during the cooking time.
Brown the top: Move the dish under the broiler under high heat for 5 minutes to lightly char the thighs (optional).
Rest and serve: Rest the chicken in the baking dish for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Air fryer instructions:
Add to basket: Add the parmesan chicken thighs to the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Air fry chicken: Air fry at 400F/200C for 12 minutes on one side, then flip and cook another 6-7 minutes on the other side or until golden and cooked through.
Rest and serve: Remove the chicken with tongs and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Cook's Tips
The safe internal temperature for chicken thighs is 165F (74C). Check the temperature of your chicken with an instant-read thermometer for accuracy.
If you're short on time, you can cook the parmesan chicken thighs without marinating them. Although, I do recommend letting it sit in the marinade for at least 30 minutes to absorb all those delicious flavors!
To make your chicken thighs cook faster and more uniform, use a meat mallet to pound them out to an even thickness before marinating.
Use unsalted butter in the marinade to better control your dish's saltiness level.
Chicken safety: Wash hands, surfaces, and utensils thoroughly after handling raw chicken. Before serving, ensure the chicken is piping hot and thoroughly cooked, juices run clear and no pink color remains.
Variations
Instead of chicken thighs, you can use chicken breast for this recipe. Just keep in mind that chicken breast will need a bit more cooking time.
If you don't have parmesan cheese on hand, feel free to use grated cheddar cheese or any other hard cheese you have in the fridge.
Try swapping out the herbs for a teaspoon of curry powder or smoked paprika for a different flavor profile.
Add a kick of heat by stirring in a teaspoon of chili flakes or cayenne pepper to the marinade.
Storage & Freezing
Cooled chicken thighs can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.
You can also freeze parmesan chicken thighs for up to three months. Store in a freezer-safe container or bag, ensuring to squeeze out as much air as possible. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating Instructions
Oven: Preheat oven to 350F/180C and reheat chicken thighs until warmed through.
Air fryer: reheat at 400F/200C for a few minutes until warmed through.
Microwave: Place chicken on a microwave-safe plate and reheat in 30-second intervals until warm.
FAQs
Chicken thighs should cook for 20-25 minutes in the oven or until they reach an internal temperature of 165F (74C).
The key to keeping chicken thighs moist is not to overcook them. Another tip is to pound the chicken thighs to an even thickness before marinating and cooking them. This will help them cook more evenly.
Parmesan chicken pairs well with just about any of your favorite side dishes. Try it with roasted potatoes, a simple green salad, or steamed vegetables.
More chicken recipes
We hope that you love this tasty garlic parmesan chicken thighs recipe! Be sure to also check out these other chicken dishes too!
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📖 Recipe
Parmesan Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken thighs boneless or bone-in
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons parmesan grated
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian herbs dried
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Melt the butter in the microwave or a pot on a stove, then pour it into a mixing bowl. Stir in the parmesan, garlic, paprika, herbs, salt and pepper.
- Rinse chicken thighs and pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Transfer to the bowl of marinade and stir to coat (you may want to mix them with your hands - be sure to wash them well immediately after).
- Optional: cover the bowl and refrigerate for a few hours for the best flavor. If you’re short on time you can skip marinating.
To oven bake
- Preheat the oven to 425F.
- Place the parmesan chicken thighs into a baking dish (no need to grease or line), drizzle with a little oil, then roast in the oven for about 20 minutes, or until cooked through, turning once or twice during the cooking time.
- Tip: when the chicken thighs are done, a meat thermometer will read an internal temperature of 165°F/74°C.
- Move the dish under the broiler under a high heat for 5 minutes to lightly char the thighs (optional).
- Rest the chicken in the baking dish (out of the oven) for 5-10 minutes to make it beautifully tender.
To cook in the air fryer
- Add the parmesan chicken thighs to the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook at 400F/200C for 12 minutes on one side, then flip and cook another 6-7 minutes on the other side or until golden and cooked through.
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Helen
This is such a tasty seasoning blend! Makes a delicious family meal.
Mahy
These chicken thighs are amazing! They were juicy and flavorful. We had them simply with a green salad. Perfect!
Amanda
These chicken thighs made such a great weeknight meal. They were super simple but so juicy and flavorful. I used the air fryer method, and it was perfect.
Kathleen
What a fabulous seasoning for chicken thighs. They tasted incredible and were perfect for our busy weeknight meal after dropping the kids to activities.